|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Jan 2, 2015 13:22:31 GMT -6
"Living Up to His Name":
Juushiro smiled at Tessai as the Kido expert unlocked the door and stood back to let him pass with Azayaka's lunch tray. "Take care you don't push yourself doing this, Ukitake-san," he stated. "Boss would be mighty disappointed if I had to carry you out of there."
Jushiro chuckled and nodded to his old friend. "I understand," he replied. The exchange between them had become routine since Juushiro had started visiting Azayaka over a month ago and Kisuke had insisted that someone be within shouting distance, 'just in case' as he put it. It served as a boost to the captain and a warning to the prisoner beyond. Tessai nodded and sat down on the ground for his watch.
Juushiro walked into the room, over to the one occupied cell. He smiled. "You're more awake today, I see," he greeted in a pleasant voice. |
|
|
|
Post by Azayaka Aizen on Jan 2, 2015 13:35:46 GMT -6
"Spare me, Soul Reaper," Azayaka shot a death glare at him from underneath her unkempt fringe.
However, after more than a month of yelling, spitting, snarling and cursing him with every word in the book, she had become tired and bored. He kept coming. He kept conversing with her. All with that sickeningly warm and bright smile. It made her want to hurl. She could taste his kindness and pure soul on her tongue. It was sweet, warm and sugary like cinnamon and sugar on freshly baked cookies. The first time he visited her the taste was so overwhelming she had dry heaved for a good five minutes, quickly scarfing down the food and downing the water, doing anything she could to get rid of the horrid taste.
Today, she only spat in the corner. She didn't have the strength to fight the aura that radiated from the white-haired captain. She was just so tired and lifeless. She wanted to go home... But she didn't have a home to go back to. She had nothing.
She held her hand out to him. "Just hurry and give me the tray. I'm starving." |
|
|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Jan 5, 2015 12:12:16 GMT -6
Juushiro nodded and handed her the tray. Azayaka snatched it and retreated to the back of her cell turning her back on him. As she began to eat, the captain considered how to approach her today. So far, nothing had reached her. And he hadn’t discussed this option with any of his fellow leaders. He closed his eyes. If something changed, then it would be worth debating about.
He stepped closer to the bars of the cage, setting his hands on the cage. Azayaka glared over her shoulder at him but didn’t come closer. The first couple times he had been within reach she had tried to strangle him, resulting in Tessai’s stern intervention and a loss of a meal. Juushiro had argued that even if it was violent, it was improvement from throwing her food tray at him and had returned.
Juushiro’s smile faded slightly. “Azaya or Azayaka, tell me,” he murmured quietly, “what has your father offered you that was so much better than what Soul Society had offered?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Azayaka Aizen on Jan 5, 2015 13:33:27 GMT -6
Azayaka froze, mid bite.
Love. He gave me his love... but that was just another of his lies...
But she wasn't about to say that. She shook her head, saying instead, "He is my father. He didn't have to offer me anything. I followed him without question. I was created for the sole purpose of serving him and carrying out his wishes. I don't need anything from him."
Since when did you start lying to yourself? This is why you're so weak. You craved his love so much you were willing to believe a lie.
"SHUT UP!" She screamed, seemingly at nothing. |
|
|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Jan 5, 2015 14:03:06 GMT -6
Juushiro shook his head at her. “If it was that simple, you wouldn’t look so dejected now. You’d be confident he’d-“ He halted as Azayaka screamed at someone besides him. What was it? Then a guess came to his mind, fueled by the end of the first war. He sighed. “You are not the only person with a hollow side, Azayaka. It is nothing to be ashamed about.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Azayaka Aizen on Jan 5, 2015 14:15:58 GMT -6
"Silence! You don't know anything about me!!!" Her hands shook as she clenched the tray. "The only reason I became a Soul Reaper was because I wanted to find my father!" She chuckled humorlessly. "But he found me first. Before I was even out of the academy. And it was in that moment that I knew I had to do everything in my power to serve him and make his dreams come true. None of you will ever understand that!"
She scarfed down the rest of the food and slid the tray across the floor, back at the white haired captain.
"And if you all think he's going to come for me, forget it. I failed him. I'm useless. Just another one of his failed experiments. He's not going to come and save a damsel in distress. It's not in his nature. This little plan of Urahara's is in vain. It failed before he even set it in motion." |
|
|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Jan 5, 2015 14:42:05 GMT -6
Juushiro knelt and picked up the tray, setting it down on his chair. “I understand more than you want, dear,” he whispered. He chuckled and smiled at her. “You remind of someone very close to me. You came from the poor districts of the Rukongai. A harsh world. She’s a noble of one of the six noble houses and a woman. It was difficult for her too.” As Azayaka growled but remained silent, he moved the tray to the floor and took a seat, closing his eyes. “You were without a family in a world of survival. Anything could have happened to you. She… was in a world of beauty but tied down to rules and still too young to understand how to move around them. Then, when she got a glimpse of freedom, she was locked away in darkness in a game of power and influence. “
“I’m nothing like Yumiko,” Azayaka spat.
Juushiro chuckled again and opened his eyes. “Yes, you are. Yumiko, my student, and you, Sousuke’s daughter, both lost your light. And I am not talking about good or evil, wrong or right. You lost your path. You were in darkness. You didn’t know where to go.”
He looked down at his hands. “So when Sousuke appeared, it was natural to take his hand.”
Azayaka sneered at him. “So you’re admitting that you made it possible for us to take Yumiko. That’s a change.”
Juushiro’s eyes narrowed slightly. “She was vulnerable to him, yes, but by tearing away her sealing and taking away her good memories, Aizen left her with close to nothing but darkness.” Before Azayaka could continue her part of argument, he went on. “Just like you when Sousuke found you.”
"That's the reason you have been loyal to him."
Azayaka fell silent, glaring daggers at him.
Juushiro sighed. "Have you actually decided to follow him with clear eyes or are you staying where it is easy?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Azayaka Aizen on Jan 5, 2015 14:52:36 GMT -6
"Following my father is NOT easy." She snarled at him. "I had my path! The path my father chose for me! I lost it because I was too weak to follow the path he desired for me! So he tossed me aside! Nothing more, nothing less! I am loyal to him because he is my father! He is my master and my king! Just as you are loyal to your king!"
You don't want a king. You want a father. Your father, Sosuke Aizen.
Azayaka clenched her head, screaming again, "I said SHUT UP!!" Her entire body shook this time.
Suddenly, a familiar reiatsu perked her attention. She released her head and raised it, placing it easily. She growled and snarled. "That BITCH!" She stood up and dashed up to the bars, right in front of Ukitake. She grabbed him by the kimono. "Where is she!?! Don't lie to me! I know she's here!"
"Who?" Ukitake questioned. However he got his answer when he suddenly became aware of it too.
Kita. |
|
|
|
Post by Kita Miyamoto on Jan 5, 2015 15:03:28 GMT -6
The door opened and Kita walked in. "Let him go, Azayaka." Kita said calmly. Azayaka looked at her with narrowed eyes still holding tight to Juushiro. "If you want to go home let him go or I will leave you here."
Azayaka looked to Juushiro her hands flexing on his kimono.
"Trust me I don't want to be here. If it were not for your fathers orders I wouldn't be here. So let him go or I turn and leave."
|
|
|
|
Post by Azayaka Aizen on Jan 5, 2015 15:09:21 GMT -6
Azayaka growled and released him, but not before pushing him backwards, causing Tessai to catch him before he fell.
"Why are you here? I highly doubt you want me back in Las Noches. And what do you mean my father's orders?" |
|
|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Jan 5, 2015 15:35:04 GMT -6
Juushiro was about to ask Kita something when the dark aura of an old opponent rushed over the shop. Tessai's look turned grim. "There's a storm coming, but that's not Aizen. Who-"
"Vale Tervaden," Juushiro replied, standing again, his eyes narrowed in concentration and memory, "former Captain of the Seventh Division."
"That one?" Tessai questioned. He placed his hand under his chin, gruff tone confused. "But his energy is different than before."
Juushiro sighed, closing his eyes. "That is because he's chosen a path. Most of his former power has been restored to him."
Azayaka laughed. "So the stray may actually be worth something after all."
Tessai's eyes narrowed in irritation but the white-haired captain turned to Kita. "What do you mean Aizen's orders, Kita?" he asked. |
|
|
|
Post by Kita Miyamoto on Jan 5, 2015 16:08:15 GMT -6
The door to Azayaka's cells popped opened with a simple wave of Kita's hands. When Azayaka stepped out Kita stepped toward her looking at the pendant around her neck that was crafted by Vacanze.
She reached up wrapping her hand around it and jerked it from around her neck. Azayaka grabbed Kita's wrist as Kita tightened her hand around the pendent and crushed it. A energy burst flared from under her hand as tiny sparkles of light filled the air around them.
Azayaka's hand loosened around Kita's wrist as Kita looked into her eyes. "Your powers were being sealed by this pendent. That's why you were so weak." She pulled her arm from her and looked at Juushiro and Tessai. "Once I am gone. Vale will leave. He has come for me. Nothing more."
She turned from them raising her hand. Stopping from opening the gate when Juushiro spoke to her asking his ignored question once more.
"What do you mean Aizen's orders, Kita?" he asked again.
"My Master ordered I retrieve his daughter from your care. Nothing more." She gave him a side glance. "If you don't interfere; you will live."
|
|
|
|
Post by Azayaka Aizen on Jan 5, 2015 16:18:09 GMT -6
Azayaka placed her hand at her neck. The pendant was what was weakening her? The pendant Vacanze gave her. She clenched her teeth and her fist.
"You've got to be joking! He ordered you to bring me back? Why would I believe that?! He cares nothing for me! Even if he did order you to..." She lowered her head. He didn't even come and get me himself. He sent this bitch to do it!
She glared at Kita. "Why? Why did he tell you to come and get me?! You give me a reason why he wants me there if I'm so useless to him!" |
|
|
|
Post by Kita Miyamoto on Jan 5, 2015 16:29:28 GMT -6
Kita turned and slapped Azayaka across the face, hard. The connection echoed in the room as Azayaka looked at Kita in shock. "He has been looking for you for the last month. He has been worried about you. No one has rested in the search for you, and if you think for one second Master does not care about you..." Kita paused. "You're his flesh and blood he would die for you."
Azayaka's hand was to her red and hot cheek as she looked to Kita. "I don't believe you."
"Then you're a bigger idiot than I believed you to be." Kita told her raising her hand again. "I don't have time to play games with you, Princess. Either you come with me or stay here in your prison. The longer I waist with you the closer Vale draws to the shopkeepers shop. I would like to keep casualties to a minimum."
|
|
|
|
Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Jan 5, 2015 17:31:45 GMT -6
Tessai frowned deeply. “Miss Kita?” he asked.
Juushiro held a hand up, stopping him and looking closely at her. He sighed. The goddess was right, he said to himself. She’s completely different. He lowered his head. “If a goddess asks, there isn’t much we can do,” he murmured out loud. Even if we want to.
Tessai groaned. “Boss is going to be upset when he’s back with Red 2.”
Juushiro raised his head to Azayaka and smiled faintly. "Remember what I said, Azaya. Examine why you follow your father. Is it really what will make you happy?
|
|
